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Friday, November 13, 2009

No matter the subject, from landscape to still life to portraiture, the very best way to grow is to paint from life. And it's been said that the foundation of a good painting is a strong composition. When painting from life, carefully plan your composition using a small viewfinder. These are readily available at art supply stores like Hobby Lobby for about $10 (well worth the cost) and are powerful tools for working out a strong composition. They have a sliding section with various painting sizes marked on the side (8 x 10, 9 x 12, etc.) so that you can work out the comp based on the size of your canvas. And, some are a mid-grey color with a small hole in the side so that you can look through it and judge the dark and light values of your scene.

As you look through the viewfinder, move around, squinting along the way so that you simplify the shapes into dark and light objects with a pleasing comp. Decide on a dominant focal point and position that off-center both vertically and horizontally (rule of thirds). Make sure that you don't divide your painting surface directly in half with your horizon line, table surface, etc. It will make for a more interesting composition when segments aren't equally sized. Choose to omit details that detract from or are unnecessary to tell the story of the scene. That's called "creative license".

When planning the view you'd like to paint, learn how to see with your eyes, not your mind. Ask yourself "Do these shapes work together? Is there enough variety in darks and lights to add drama to the painting?" Abstraction simplifies shapes into masses varying in color and value and adds cohesiveness to the scene.

Careful planning before you start your painting will enhance your success and satisfaction.

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COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

Coffee and Conversation has been cancelled tomorrow due to our upcoming 6x6 Exhibit!!! We will let you know in the near future if we will reschedule for this month.

Please join us Thursday evening from 6-9 for the 6x6 Show............it is sure to please!!!

TIPS ON FREEZING OIL PAINT

In my oil painting classes, the issue of freezing the paint left over on your palette comes up often.
I subscribe to an online newsletter written by Marion Boddy-Evans and this article is attributed to her.
Pay particular attention to the latter portion that deals with freezing under water.
QUESTION: FREEZING OIL PAINT..........
The tip about freezing of oil paints to preserve them between painting sessions, usually suggested as placing your entire palette in the freezer, in based on the fact that oil freezes are a very low temperature. (It's far lower than water.) Given the temperature a domestic freezer is usually set at, leftover oil paint put into it is unlikely to freeze because it doesn't get cold enough.
I put the question to about freezing oil paint to Anne Marie Helmenstine PhD, About.com's Guide to Chemistry, who said: "The freezing point of linseed oil (the predominant oil in oil paints) is -20°C (-4°F). Most people set their freezers at 0°F, so oil paint will not freeze in most home freezers.
"Oil paints work better when applied at cold or even freezing temperatures, but the paintings themselves are embrittled at low temperatures, especially if the humidity is low. It's fine to store your oils in the freezer if you're taking a break. The cold temperature will slow the rate of oxidation and evaporation, preserving the paint. But once you start a canvas, it's better for the painting to maintain it at a room temperature that's cool but non-freezing, otherwise the painting may become brittle."
An article in issue no 12 of Golden's Just Paint by a "scientist who specializes in coatings" says this about freezing oil paints: "Oils also become more brittle when cold, but embrittlement occurs at temperatures below freezing. ...significant drops in temperature from 23°C down to below freezing at very low humidity can create stresses in a fairly young 13 year old oil paint film that will exceed its breaking point."1
The tip about submerging leftover oil paint in water to preserve it, is a centuries-old one. In a book on color published by the National Gallery in London, David Bomford (Associate Director for Collections at the J Paul Gerry museum in Los Angeles) and Ashok Roy (director of Scientific Research at the National Gallery in London) write: "...by early Renaissance times professional supplies of pigments existed ... Prepared oil paints were kept in the studio under water to prevent them from drying out."2
Of course traditional use doesn't always match modern scientific knowledge. Asked about submerging oil paint under water, Anne Marie said: "Exposing an oil painting to water or high humidity is damaging because it can disrupt the cross-linking of polymers, leading to a loss of adhesion (which is naturally poor because linseed oil is not a strong adhesive).
"I would not recommend storing paint or a palette under water, since high humidity inhibits polymer cross-linking, weakening the paint. If the paint is sealed, this serves no purpose except perhaps to prevent rapid temperature swings. If the paint is not sealed, the high humidity can be damaging. Exposure to alkaline conditions may also increase the degree of yellowing over that which would naturally occur."
And to quote from Just Paint again: "There are also chemical reactions that can break the polymer chains in oils. The most common is chemical reaction with water. This reaction is usually slow, but it gets much faster if the paint film is exposed to humid air under alkaline conditions. This becomes a problem if the paint is formulated with alkaline pigments or if it is applied over an alkaline surface."1
So although there's anecdotal evidence from oil painters who've put their oil paints under water and not seen any issues, and it's a practice with a long tradition, it isn't sound on a chemical level. But freezing oil paints, that's fine if you've a large enough freezer. Personally, I think I'll stick to using my freezer for ice cream.
posted by Dalsing

RUSSIAN ARTIST, NYBORG, SPEAKS AT GALLERY

Our May Third Thursday was well attended and all enjoyed the talk given by Tatyana Nyborg. She brought with her several examples of Russian folk art and explained how each piece was created. She discussed the life of the artist in Russia and the difficulties they faced particularly during political upheavals and war.
Tatyana lives in Mannford with her husband and son, Tony, who came with his mother to the gallery. Her education and degrees, received in Russia are in jouralism. She has worked as a journalist here in Oklahoma.
posted by Dalsing

RUSSIAN ARTIST TO SPEAK AT WATER STREET ART GALLERY

TATYANA NYBORG, Russian artist living in Oklahoma, will give a talk on our Third Thursday demo night, May 20. She will bring along some Russian folk art to show us and discuss how it is created. She will talk about the life of the artist in Russia, tell of her own life and artistic path, and perhaps how she likes being an artist in Oklahoma and the United States.
Please join us at the gallery, 6:30 pm, to listen to this delightful and interesting artist.
posted by Dalsing

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Water Street Art Gallery proudly introduces the Oklahoma Daily Painters Blog, open to membership by Oklahoma Artists. To apply email: contactus@waterstreetartgallery.com and include a link to your art blog or website for jury review.